Banco Popular de Puerto Rico

With Black Friday upon us, advisors will have a chance to add to their technology arsenal without having to blow a hole in their pockets. Here are 11 essential tech tools advisors should consider.

Financial advisors want to know the most important key to becoming a top producer. Most think the answer must be a magical new product, an innovative new sales idea or a remarkable new marketing strategy. However, their jaws drop when they learn the truth. Nathan Bergeland, the CEO and founder of USAdvisors Network, offered some insights.

“The outlook for investors in 2011 is as positive as we have seen in years,” says Joseph R. Dancy, Adjunct Professor of Law at Southern Methodist University and manager of the LSGI Venture Fund L.P.

James Carney, president and chief executive officer of ByAllAccounts, says profitable and effective practices are changing their priorities and being more progressive in their thinking this year. He offered seven habits that will help firms regain profitability.

Have you decided that 2011 is the year to become an independent advisor? Tom Nally, a managing director of institutional sales at TD Ameritrade Institutional, gave us 10 of the best tips for going independent.

BlackRock’s Bob Doll announced some pretty bullish predictions for the year ahead. But what are the potential upside and downside risks for 2011?

The year of the Flash Crash, debt crises in developed economies and regulatory reform gave financial planners plenty to discuss with their clients. The magazine looked behind these headlines and others to give industry professionals leading-edge insights into how their profession would cope and thrive.

We took a look back at where the industry went right (and where it didn’t), whether it involved wading deeper into social media or missing the mark on CRM systems.

Wealth-X ranks the states with the most ultra-wealthy.

Looking for a stocking stuffer for your favorite financial planner? Check out the 10 best-selling books for advisors from Amazon.com.